Thruxton Tyre Pump Recommendation

Hi, I bought a dual cylinder Halfords foot pump that costs £13 which works fine on my Street Scrambler. Hopefully your bike isn’t blighted by Triumph’s practice of putting rubbish inner tubes in the front tyres of Street Scramblers which lose a couple of lbs a week. I’ve had 3 and same problem on them all.

 

Get a Michelin double barrel one. I've had one for years and it's been both robust and reliable.

 

To get around the spokes try one of these, adds a little extra length.

 

Forget foot pumps and buy a compact 12v pump. If need be fit a fag lighter socket on the bike somewhere hidden, under the seat maybe. I carry one in a bag on the back of the ZZR along with a tubeless repair kit but this obviously isn't an option on a bike with tubes.

 

My first Scrambler lost maybe a couple of pounds a month but I fitted a HD 4mm tube at the first tyre change which cured that. The new Scrambler doesn't seem to lose any.

 

I had the same problem with my Thruxton. The air pumps at most petrol stations don’t fit between the spokes/callipers on the front wheel.

I bought one of these…
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B09C25JBKC?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Very happy with it, and it’s pretty portable so you can take it on a tour. Also doubles as a power bank which is pretty handy as well!

 

I use a cheap handpump, it really doesn't matter how you get the air in, it's how accurate your tyre pressure gauge is. I over inflate the tyres by 4-5lb using the handpump gauge, but I have a good quality tyre gauge that allows me to then bleed off the excess air to get an accurate setting. Garage pumps are next to useless to accurately set your pressure.

 

I've recently bought a rechargeable portable unit (the Lidl one, but lots of similar).
Small enough to travel with a bike. Wall power charger + 12v car plug charger.
Perfect to check and adjust pressure.
Not made to inflate a flat tire.

I've compared the measure with my regular compressor unit. The portable inflator is accurate.

 

So here's a cheap solution - an elbow connector GBP 2.25 -

 

I blew the fuse on the bike’s 12v outlet as the digital power inflator I use for the car uses more amps than the fuse rating on the bike …hence the foot pump. I’ve had 3 Street Scramblers and the first 2 had new ‘non Triumph’ front inner tubes due to pressure loss… my current one is still losing 2 psi per week despite a new tube so I think they just put a replacement Triumph one in despite me requesting a proper one as before… bit of a pain as non of the rear tyres had the same problem. .. will speak to them again about it before it’s 1st year service.

 

Had some of those for my yamaha FZX and it's almost plain wheels.
I didn't rely enough to let it permanently on the bike. But it's really helpful.
On the SPRINT ST 1050 the valves are already elbowed.
Don't really understand why makers do not put those from factory.
First tire change, ask for 90° valves.

 

Michelin make good heavy duty tubes designed for supermotos, worth the extra coin, I used them in my Guzzis

 

Have you ever considered removing the inner tubes and using a product like "Outtex"? You can buy this kit on Ebay. basically its a tape kit to seal the rim wear the spokes enter the rim. I never tried it but it looks cool.